10 things you didn't know about Yash Chopra

Yash Chopra's earliest films were produced by elder brother BR Chopra. Yash made his directorial debut with Dhool Ka Phool in 1959. In 1971, Yash Chopra left brother BR Chopra's home as well as production company to set up his own venture.

'Yashraj' films started in 1973 with his first production 'Daag' with Rajesh Khanna. That's how the name was formed â€“ Yash- Raj (for Rajesh Khanna).

Among all the movies he directed his personal favourite was Lamhe starring Anil Kapoor and Sridevi. It was not a box office success, but was considered ahead of its time.

Yash Chopra, known for musical romances, had also made 'Ittefaq' â€“ a dark thriller sans songs

He has shot in Switzerland so many times that a lake in the Alpenrausch, a favourite shooting spot of his, has been christened Chopra Lake.

Also, Jungfrau Railways in Switzerland inaugurated a train named after Yash Chopra. With his signature and name on a signboard, the train was launched by him.

Yash Chopra had cast Smita Patil and Parveen Babi for Silsila (1981). Although his choice were Jaya Bachchan and Rekha. He conveyed his feelings to Amitabh Bachchan, who suggested that they ask Jaya and Rekha how they felt and so he asked both the actresses and eventually they did the movie. The film went on to become a cult classic.

Yash Chopra encouraged Javed Akhtar to take up lyric writing and thus he started his career as lyricist with Silsila.

Veer-Zara was originally going to be called 'Yeh Kahaan Aa Gaye Hum', after the song from Silsila, but Yash Chopra felt that 'Veer-Zaara' went better with the story of the film.

For Dil to Pagal Hai, Yash Chopra rejected 54 dresses created by Manish Malhotra for Madhuri Dixit's character before approving for simple salwar kameez.

For the shoot of the last remaining song in Jab Tak Hai Jaan, director Yash Chopra had a grand vision: a sari-clad Katrina Kaif romancing Shah Rukh Khan in the lush meadows of the Swiss Alps. But unfortunately, his illness, caused by a bout of dengue, stymied the plan for the song, which would have reflected his trademark directorial style.